Haiku’s among friends

Remembering back to the days in Yukigakure, in a strange place of frolicking and snow, task master Yoi and the joy of new friends…..Asahi couldn’t help but compare that time to now.  Unusual circumstances in an unusual world, and yet the differences where still there.  That time had felt, more natural even than this.  There had been an invitation, an exchange almost that had allowed such an adventure to occur.  He’d sensed something in Yoi, that of a spirit.  Not a Kami but something akin to one almost.  Here however, he was outside of his depth, it felt like another place all together.  Not held within the same boundaries and dimensions of home.  

Still, it had good drink and food, so he complained very little.  There was also a feeling that he would return when it was time, so for the time he was here he enjoyed the festival.  Finding himself once again beneath the cherry trees he listened as other individuals stood and shared their poetry in the bounties and joys that spring brought.  Soon it was his turn, and with a smile he stood and took his place in the circle.  

I dream of springtime 
It’s warmth against my cold
Autumn between us

He smiled at the small round of clapping.  He wasn’t sure if winter time truly longed to be springtime, or perhaps spring wished to cool itself with winter.  Their merits both existed, and in truth his poem spoke to a greater thing.  That of wishing we were what we aren’t, and merely seeing what keeps us from being.

Time had gone by since he’d had his reading within the calm cool area of the cherry trees.  The festival never seemed to stop, but for Asahi…..even his stamina in such things had its limits.  Finding himself in a small hot spring type area, he’d finally found a bit of an escape.  The large amount of pipes and outside steam indicates it was a manufactured effect, but if the water was hot and the drinks were cold then that mattered exceedingly little.  Checking his clothes, and collecting his towel, he disrobed and soon found himself dipped into the warm waters with not another soul in site.

Chin beneath the water, inhaling the warmth with his nostrils and blowing bubbles with his mouth, a halo of blonde floated around his features.  He couldn’t explain why, but he felt as though the time of the festival was closing.  In truth, he was ready to head back home either way.  The thought struck him, a man on the road, yet now…Tanbogakure really was subconsciously his home.  The thought brought him some comfort, and he wondered if his cousin felt the same way . The thoughts he’d been having, the ones he had confessed during their out of the way adventure.  Asahi hoped they weren’t wearing on his cousin too greatly.  Yet, one never knew what darkness was held in other mens hearts.  We might assume we know, but to those who wish to hide such things, it is nearly an impossible vault to crack.

TWC - 514

Fade to black and then fade back in.  Cherry trees and hot springs, and now a simple picnic table with a sandwich.  Munching on the crispy cooked bread and delicious insides Asahi looked around the grounds.  For the first time things seemed to be winding down from what they normally were.  Certainly, it seemed like there were less people here now, and yet he wondered at what order folks were forced to leave.  With this in his mind, he considered why he wasn't one of the first ones picked to vacate the vacation vortex that was this campground, or festival area.  

Alas, one could never tell without further information.  He had completed what he considered to be the side festivities of the area, so maybe his reward was a great time to be spent vacationing.  At least, that made as much sense as anything else that was going on.  Still, he was hoping to get let out fairly soon.  There were other tasks he wished to see too, or at least he believed so.  His upcoming missions where not something he particularly wanted to do, but they were what was requested of him.  It would be his first time outside the village in an official capacity.  

He'd been charged with assisting with some trading missions, though he did not have the details yet.  Still, that would have to wait until he was sent back home.  Regardless of wants and needs, Asahi Yagami remained a normal everyday samurai in a world of monsters.

TWC - 766

He wasn’t sure how he knew exactly, and yet….he did.  This was his last few moments within the spring time festival dimension.  The perplexing case that had puzzled him and forced an adventure upon him was over.  Though the conclusion hadn’t been exactly to his satisfaction, he’d met more new people, some of which he was interested in and some he was interested in knowing fewer things about them.  Alas, that is how it goes when one meets new people.  You never know what you may find.  For now though, in the waning embrace of spring, he was satisfied with a cup of cold juice and a pen.  

He wondered what if anything left behind stayed, or perhaps this dimension would fold and collapse never to be seen again.  Regardless he hoped the things that occurred had meant something, the time shared remembered, and the reason to celebrate to return one day.  He jotted down some notes on the crisp paper before kneeling and nailing it underneath a bench.  Taking stock of his location he committed it to memory as best he could.  Should he ever be called here again, he vowed to come back and check.  Even if the paper was gone, the mail may remain, and even if iron should rust the scar in the wood would remind him.  He smiles at that…..scars weren’t all bad as some would make them out to be.  Sometimes they helped show us what we survived and what had been……and their presence  promises a what will be to follow.  

TWC - 1198

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